(openPR) - NRW.Bank and IVC enlarge their former engagement.

Baesweiler, 2006, February 21st.

AplaGen has closed a Convertible Bond with NRW.Bank.Venture Fonds and the IVC Intelligent Venture Capital Fonds. The investors have enlarged their former engagement in the biotechnology company AplaGen GmbH. With this funding, further growth chances of the company based in Baesweiler are ensured and it is strengthened on its way to out-license its first product.

AplaGen´s product pipeline includes different peptides (small proteins). One of these substances can be used for the treatment of anemia caused by renal dysfunction or chemotherapy. Further peptides that can be used for therapy of cancer or multiple sclerosis are developed by the company. AplaGen GmbH does not want to bring its drugs to the market itself, but plans to make licensing agreements at different stages of project development.

"With this capital we strengthen our funding. Especially in the ongoing out-licensing process of the EPO-mimetic substance for the treatment of anemia this is very important. Particularly, that process has reached a very promising status. We see good opportunities for finding a partner in this very attractive market", says Dr. Franzpeter Bracht, Managing Director of AplaGen GmbH.

At AplaGen GmbH the investment of the NRW.Bank.Venture Fonds and Intelligent Venture Capital based in Cologne and Aachen is carried out together with the founders Dr. Bracht, Dr. Kaufmann, and Prof. Frank.

NRW.Bank.Venture Fonds
Launched in January 2005 and capitalised with up to EUR 40 million, NRW.BANK´s venture capital fund supports young growth companies in the IT, telecommunications, life science, optics and materials sectors Together with its co-investors NRW.BANK exclusively acquires minority investments in young companies that have already successfully completed a first venture capital round.

IVC Intelligent Venture Capital
Since its foundation in 1999, IVC (www.ivc.de) has closed more than 30 transactions and financing rounds for early-stage and technology companies. At the moment, Intelligent Venture Capital GmbH administrates investments in 7 companies in the life-science, micro technology, and software sector. The IVC investor portfolio consists of private persons from North-Rhine Westphalia which are mostly leading managers or entrepreneurs. These persons expand the contact network and the industry expertise of IVC considerably.


Dr. Franzpeter Bracht
Dr. Silke Behne
AplaGen GmbH
Arnold-Sommerfeld-Ring 2
52499 Baesweiler
fpbracht@aplagen.com
sbehne@aplagen.com
Tel: +49 2401 805 570
Fax:+49 2401 805574




The announcement distributed by directnews.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.